Leiden University will recognize and reward open science more
Leiden University has received a €50,000 grant from Open Science NL to develop a roadmap for integrating open science into the strategic priorities of various institutes and translating this into human resource (HR) policies.
This initiative is essential because if institutes and teams lack clarity about their strategic goals, it becomes unclear which activities and outcomes staff should be recognized and rewarded for.
Open science
Open science focuses on making science more accessible, inclusive, and reliable. Leiden University sees open science as the way to achieve a greater scientific impact and societal relevance. For this reason, open science is a priority in the Academia in Motion program.
Project goals
The roadmap considers several key aspects. First, the project helps institutes and teams refine their strategic focus, making it clear what their main objectives and priorities are.
Second, it examines the role of open science within these strategies. Which aspects of open science does an institute or team want to recognize and reward? And how do these contribute to the institute’s or team’s goals? For instance, will an institute focus on Citizen Science or Open Access? These are just two examples of the many possibilities.
Finally, the roadmap explores how the strategy and the open science aspects can be concretely integrated into HR policies. This includes incorporating them into GROW discussions, recruitment processes, promotion criteria, and other HR practices.
From pilot to broader implementation
The methodology will initially be piloted at the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) and several sections of the Institute of Psychology within the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FSW). Insights from these pilots will refine the approach, which can then be applied to other FSW institutes and faculties.
National coordination by CWT
A total of 23 research institutions received funding through Open Science NL's grant program. Additionally, CWTS received funding for national coordination of these projects. This coordination will enable the exchange of best practices and alignment across institutions.
CWTS researcher Inge van der Weijden, who leads the national coordination, stated: 'The transition to open science requires a cultural shift that we can only achieve together. We build on the strong foundation of the national Recognition and Rewards program, leveraging CWTS's state-of-the-art expertise and network in open science.'
See the Open Science NL news article on funding 23 knowledge institutions.